24 hours in Glasgow: An insider's guide to the city

Glasgow is an incredible city. There’s so much to do that it can drive you mad just trying to formulate plans. That’s why today we’ve put together this guide on how to best spend 24 hours in Glasgow.

So how can you spend a day in Glasgow? It might just be Scotland’s only 24 hour city. There’s so much to do at all hours of the night. We thought it would be best to speak to one of the city's most knowledgeable sources on all things hospitality.

Meet Mae MacInnes - one of Glasgow’s foremost hospo experts - she’s the general manager for Mharsanta and at just 29 years old, she’s been working in hospitality for 16 years.

Starting her career in hospitality and tourism on the Isle of Skye at 13, Mae became general manager of Mharsanta in Glasgow’s Merchant City in 2020.

Recently Mae was recognised in parliament for her role in the tourism and hospitality industry after she was named ‘Rising Star’ in the West of Scotland Regional Thistle Awards.

Whether you’re a tourist looking to make the most of your time in the city or a local looking to celebrate a big occasion, here’s how Mae MacInnes thinks you should spend 24 hours in Glasgow.

7AM: Take in the early morning in Glasgow’s West End

“You’ll want to start your day bright and early in Glasgow’s leafy West End. Get up, give yourself a shake and get out there. Meet the surprisingly cheery morning dog walkers and the bleary-eyed commuters and take in the sights and sounds as the city resets for the day.

“If you’re looking to stay in the city so you can make the most of your day, you’d be surprised at how cheap you can get a BnB or private hostel room in the West End given all the exclusive spots like One Devonshire Gardens.

“That being said, if you’re looking for a more luxurious experience in the West End, I’d recommend the Alamo Guest House just by Kelvingrove Art Gallery - the service is incredible and the rooms are huge, stately, very comfy, and above all affordable.”

8AM: Check out the University of Glasgow

“If you’re a tourist you need to stop by the University of Glasgow and marvel at its Victorian architecture. It’s really as close to Hogwarts as you can get, and this early you can really take it all in before thousands of students descend on the place.”

9AM: Grab a coffee from Papercup

“For my money, Papercup is the best coffee shop and roastery in the city. It’s been around for over a decade now, one of the very first speciality coffee roasteries to open in Glasgow. 

“They have a range of affordable and more deep coffee profiles available from their shop on Great Western Road.

“Although, if you’re a real coffee fan and you find yourself in Glasgow on a weekday, I can’t recommend the railway arch roastery on Eastvale Place by SWG3 enough. A deep aroma of thousands of rich coffee beans roasting soundtracked by the intermittent rumble of trains passing overhead while you sip a freshly made coffee, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better cup anywhere in Britain, nevermind Glasgow.”

10AM: Go shopping in Glasgow’s trendiest neighbourhood

“We’re heading to Finnieston now. Once the hub of Clydeside industry in Glasgow, it’s now one of the hippest spots in town.

“You’ll find some of the best independent businesses right here in this little corner of the West End. 

“Make sure you visit the Hidden Lane for some really unique spots - particular shops that are must-visit in Finnieston for me are: Gallus Alice, Velvet Moon, Bluebelle vintage, Strip Joint, Finnieston clothing, and of course The Real Deal - a shop full of all kinds of antiques and generally odd stuff.”

11AM: Get brunch at Gael & Grain

“Gael and Grind is the best spot for brunch in the West End in my opinion. It’s a real hearty meal that’ll set you up for the day.

“It offers a unique spin on Scottish food and you’ll be surprised at how much they can do with local produce and recipes.

“I’d go for the Eggs Benedict on Glasgow’s own Freedom Bakery sourdough with honey-baked ham and drizzled with hollandaise sauce. Incredible stuff really.

“They’ve also got a comedy lounge, so if you end up back in the West End in the evening for whatever reason, be sure to check it out.”

1PM: More vintage spots off Byres Road

“One spot I never see anyone speaking about is Ruthven Mews just off Byres Road.

“You need to check out Starry Starry Night for some real authentic vintage the likes of which you can’t find anywhere else in Glasgow. It’s incredibly chic.

“Head further into Ruthven Mews for a real variety of stuff. It’s kind of car-boot vibes - records, comics, hoovers, old dolls, miscellaneous vintage, old car parts and antiquated kitchen gadgets for some reason - it’s real fun going for a rummage.”

2PM: Pop on the Subway

“A visit to Glasgow is never complete without a spin on the Subway. They’ve got brand new subway carriages which make Glasgow feel almost like London, albeit with a much smaller service area.”

3PM: Take a tour of the underground world beneath Glasgow

“No one speaks enough about the tours you can take of the Victorian underworld beneath Glasgow Central Station.

“They’re really special, and the tour guide is a real Glaswegian character. Check out all the disused train tunnels and find out about the hidden village below Glasgow Central that was demolished to make the station over 100 years ago.”

4PM: Get the drinks in!

“Now that you’ve eaten, got your shopping done for the day and even taken in a bit of local history and culture. There’s only one thing for it. Getting the drinks in.

“What better way to start off than with a cocktail, and for me, there’s no better spot in the city centre than Daddy Marmalades.

“You can keep your Tabac and Last Bookstore, I prefer the cocktails in Marmalades. To me it feels more authentic and Glaswegian too.”

5PM: Head to the Barras

“While the market might be shut, there’s still plenty to do around the Barras in the early evening.

“If you’re feeling peckish grab some street food for Ho Lee Fook, otherwise, get yourself into The Gate.

“Here you can try whiskeys from all over the world, though Scottish is my favourite of course. If that’s not your bag, try one of their cocktails either off or on the menu. They’ve got some of the friendliest staff in the city, so expect some good chat!” 

6PM: Get rowdy and say howdy at Van Winkle

“Besides the Grand Ole Opry and Maggies, Van Winkle is one of the only American-themed spots in Glasgow.

“They do massive portions of Kentucky style BBQ and have the biggest selections of bourbons in the city if I’m not wrong. 

“Even if you’re not a whisky fan, give bourbon a try. It’s sweet, and appeals to an entirely different palate than whisky drinkers.”

7PM: Enjoy incredible Scottish seafood at Kelp

“Make your way back to the city centre and up to Cowcaddens for the very best seafood you can find in Glasgow.

“Lots of people seem to forget the incredible range of seafood we have here in Scotland - there’s a lot more to Scottish cuisine than just venison, whisky and haggis.

“Make sure to order a range of small plates with a side of oysters - my favourite dish is (of course) the Isle of Skye landed langoustines served with confit garlic & herb butter and grilled lemon.”

9PM: Time to unwind

“Take a slow saunter down to Argyle Street and get ready to visit one of the hottest new bars in the Merchant City.

“On top of Social Hub there’s a new cocktail bar called SiSi with panoramic views of the city - a great place to get ready for the night to truly begin.”

11PM: Stop by Bar 91

“A personal favourite of mine is Bar 91 - an understated relaxed spot in the Merchant City to grab a couple of drinks on the way to the nightlife of Glasgow.”

MIDNIGHT - 6AM: Go clubhopping

“Glasgow’s clubbing scene is too great and varied to narrow down to one spot, so my suggestion? Go Clubhopping. You’ll find a lot more spots with free entry than you’d expect.

“Start at AXM / Polo to see the hub of queer nightlife in the city, before moving on to Haus and Hide n Seek by Buchanan Street.

“After that pop down to Sauchiehall Street - the nightlife centre of Glasgow. I’d recommend the late-night bars Nice N Sleazy, 1990 and Box for some late night live music. Garage and the Savoy are Glaswegian institutions, but they’re a bit tired for my tastes now.

“The place to be is Berkeley Suite, and on many weekend nights they’ll be open as late as 6am. Expect great DJs, great chat, and all around great folks.”

Bedtime:

“Whatever time you call it a night, you’ve got two options depending on your budget in my estimation.

“Blytheswood Hotel is without a doubt the best hotel in the city. Expect to mingle with the rich and famous, and wake up ready to make full use of their spa facilities.

“If you think you won’t be able to make full use of the facilities or would rather save some money, my pick would be Moxy.

“It’s cool, it’s comfy, and it’s affordable - what more could you want after such a big day out.”